Ramses’ Buried Treasures

Abu Simbel is the largest rock-cut temple in the world. Inside are giant halls and passages cut by hand 60 metres into a cliff face. Dominating its façade – four 20-metre-tall sandstone statues of pharaoh Ramses II, known as Ancient Egypt’s greatest ever ruler. 

How did Ramses win this title? Decoding the clues he built into Abu Simbel reveal his strategy for eclipsing his predecessors’ achievements. Why did he align the temple with the sunrise on two specific dates? What was the reason he dedicated a second temple to his wife? Does Abu Simbel reveal Ramses’ plans for a project unprecedented in Egyptian history?

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